diff --git a/bin/git-start b/bin/git-start
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..405da55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/git-start
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# Initialize a git repository and automatically create an empty root commit.
+# NOTE: requires the `l` alias to be defined (see .gitconfig)
+
+git init && git commit --allow-empty -m "Initial commit" && git l
+
diff --git a/config/git/config b/config/git/config
index a6153c4..30a4c76 100644
--- a/config/git/config
+++ b/config/git/config
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
     lla     = ll --all
     s       = status --short
     ss      = status
-    start   = !git init && git commit --allow-empty -m \"Initial commit\" && git l
 
 [pretty]
     basic = %C(auto)%h%d %s %C(8) %ad